Page 98 of When Fashion Turns Deadly

Cole nodded. “I’ll meet you by those cubbies where you left your purse.”

“It’s not my purse,” Isabelle said. “I need to return it to Ralph.”

“We can take care of that before we leave.” Cole leaned in and kissed her cheek. “See you in a few minutes.”

Isabelle nodded.

Marit stepped up beside her. “I’ll come with you.”

The two made their way to the dressing rooms and changed into their regular clothes. Isabelle set her high heels on the rack and took her time to pull on her favorite sneakers.

Relieved that her blisters had healed significantly over the past few days, she stepped out of her changing room and found Marit waiting for her.

“I can’t believe I’m finally finished.” Isabelle let out a sigh of relief. “My modeling career is over.”

“Maybe,” Marit said. “If Esmee has her way, this is only the beginning.”

“That’s sweet of her to think I can be successful at this, but from now on, I’m leaving the modeling to you. It’s way too much work for me.”

Marit laughed. “Come on. Let’s find our boyfriends.”

Isabelle led the way to the cubbies and retrieved the bag that she and Marit had been sharing since Marit’s was stolen. “We need to find something to put our stuff in so we can return this purse to Ralph.”

“I’ll bet he has a bag or box we can use.” Marit headed toward where Ralph was standing with several of his assistants, an air of celebration sparking in the air.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Marit said, stepping beside Ralph. “Do you have something we can put our stuff in so we can return your bag to you?”

Ralph shook his head. “I want you to keep it.”

“Oh, we couldn’t possibly—” Marit began.

“Of course you can. Without you and your friends, my company would have been ruined.” He motioned to one of his assistants. “Where’s the other one?”

“Right here.” The woman picked up another purse he had designed.

“I’ll let the two of you decide who wants which one,” Ralph said.

“You really don’t have to do that,” Isabelle said.

“It’s a small token of my appreciation,” Ralph said. “Truly, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Marit accepted the second bag from the assistant.

A reporter approached Ralph, pulling him away.

“That was very kind of him,” Isabelle said.

“It really was,” Marit agreed. “You know what I think?”

“What?”

“You and Cole need to stay through the weekend, and we need to have the guys take us out where we can enjoy having these great new bags.”

“As long as I don’t have to put on another pair of heels, that sounds like a fabulous idea.”

Chapter 35

The sun was shining, chasingaway the morning chill as Lars and Marit followed behind Cole and Isabelle along the narrow streets of Montmartre. They walked through a picturesque, cobbled square, and Lars slid his arm more securely around Marit’s waist, love for the beautiful woman beside him swelling in his chest. She glanced at him and smiled. Lars responded by dropping a gentle kiss on her cheek. As soon as they were back in Amsterdam, he was going to put a rush job on the diamond ring he hoped to put on her finger.

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